Key aligner



Aug. 21, 1928.

J. JACOBSON KEY ALIGNER Filed Nov. 18, 1927 INVENTOR fa/m -fddZJO/Z ATTORN EY Patented Aug. 21, 1928.

UNITED star as JoHN'Jn'coB'soN, or G'AnvEs'ron, TEXAS.

KEY. ALIGNER:

Application fii'amem-b'er 18,1927. Serial No. 234,225.

The present invention is concerned with the provision of means'for accurately ahgning concrete sheet pilings as they are driven;

The problem of retainingsuch pilings against lateral" displacement as they are worked'into the ground and securing them'in astraight line has been attacked from numerous angles,

with but indifferent success. ln'acco rda-n ce' withthe present invention, I provide a .pil iiigguide means in the nature of'a, key aligner, which device, cooperating-with grooves in the abutting edges of the sheet pilings, in-

sures accurate piling alignment. Ob ects of the invention are to pro'vlc'le' ple, practical construction, which may be conveniently manipulated, and which will be inexpensive to manufacture.

lVith the above noted and other objects in view, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, as will be more fully hereinafter set forth and pointed out in the claims. The invention may be more fully understood from the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a top plan view showing a plurality of aligned abutting sheet pilings with my improved key aligner in place.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing several pilings driven home, and the key aligner of the present invention operating to guide another piling into position.

Fig. 3 is a view partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section through the key aligner. v

In the drawings I have used the reference numeral 10 to designate sections of sheet piling which are to be driven into the ground in properly aligned and abutting relationship. The abutting edges of-the concrete pilings are formed with vertical, substantially semi-circular grooves 11 therein, so that the grooves of two adjacent pilings cooperatively define a tubular or cylindrical passageway.

The key aligner of the present invention includes a pair of vertical tubular legs 12 spaced apart a distance equal to the distance between the grooves 11 of a single concrete piling 10; the legs being of a cross sectional shape to conveniently fit within the grooves. The upper ends of the legs 12 receive depending cylindrical members 13 preferably intea key, aligner of this typeof extremely' Sim:

gral with a yoke designated .generalby the reference numeral 1 1-. Cylindrical extensions 13 snugl'y fit the legs12'and are coupled theretoby rivets or equivalent securing devices 15 passed through the, legs and extensions.

The yoke member 1 1* may ifdesired, be of general ar'cuate form, but preferably includes two integral sides 16 inclining gradually upwardly from, thelegs toward thece'nter of the yoke. The weight of the device may be lightened by cutting relatively'deep grooves 17 in the tops of the yoke'side s 16, but there is preferably an impact'sur fa'ce' l8 left between the'adjacentends of the grooves 17', so that the key ali gne'rmay be ham'nier'ed into place". Depending from 'the"a'r1ns" 16 are lugs 19 adapted to engage the top of a sheet piling 10, and limit the insertion of the key aligner. These lugs provide spaces between them, so that the key aligner may be lifted or pried upwardly after it has served its purpose.

As best seen in Fig. 2, one arm of the key aligner is dropped into the cylindrical passageway formed by the cooperating grooves 11 on two driven pilings, the other arm of the aligner being received in the exposed groove 11 of the last piling of the series. A new piling which is to be driven and aligned in abutting relationship with the last piling, is so positioned that it abuts the last piling, and its groove 11 receives the exposed half of the exposed arm 12 of the key aligner. The piling is then guided into its home position by the aligner, and the aligner removed and re-used in a similar manner when driving the next piling.

Obviously, various changes and alterations might be made in the general form and arrangement of the parts described without departing from the invention. Hence I do not wish to limit myself to the details set forth, but shall consider myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A device for aligning concrete sheet piling or the like having vertical longitudinal grooves 'in its abutment faces, the device including a pair of spaced arms straddling a piling, lying in the grooves thereof, and presenting projecting key portions to fit the grooves of adjacent pilings, and a yoke member connecting the upper ends of the arms.

2. A device for aligning concrete sheet piling or the like having vertical longitudinal its center.

3. A device for aligning concrete sheet piling or the like having vertical longitudinal grooves in its abutment faces, the device including a pair of spaced arms straddling a piling, lying in the grooves thereof, and presenting projecting key portions to fit the grooves of adjacent pilings, and a yoke member connecting the upper ends of the arms, said yoke member inclining upwardly toward its center and providing an impact surface at its center.

4. A device for aligning concrete sheet piling or the like having vertical longitudinal grooves in its abutment faces, the device including a pair of spaced arms straddling a piling, lying in the grooves thereof, and presenting projecting key portions to fit the grooves of adjacent pilings, and a yoke member connecting the upper ends ofthe arms, said yoke member inclining upwardly toward its center, and including depending lugs resting on the top of the straddled piling. 7

5. A device for aligning concrete sheet piling or the like having vertical longitudinal grooves in its abutment faces, the device including a pair of spaced arms straddling a piling, lying in the grooves thereof, and pre senting projecting key portions to fit the grooves of adjacent pilings, and a yoke member connecting the upper ends of the arms, said arms being of tubular formation received in semi-circular grooves in the pilings and the yoke including solid extensions at its ends fixed in the upper ends of the arms.

Signed at Galveston, in the county of Galveston and State of Texas, this 14th day of November, A. D. 1927.

JNO. JACOBSON. 

